Direction signal



Dec, w, 1935. H. N. THOMAS 2,@24,@77

DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed May 6, 1955 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION SIGNAL Harold N. Thomas, Topeka, Kans.

Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 20,093

15. Claims.

This invention relates to a direction signal for use on highways as a warning and indication of directional changes and hazards in the highway ahead.

The object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sectional arrow simulation structure having the sections thereof tion, strong, durable, expeditiously assembled to.

designate the required signal, conveniently anchored in signaling position, thoroughly efficient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of such parts and such combinationof parts, as are hereinafter more specifiically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown several embodiments of the invention, but it is to be. understood that changes, variations and modifications may be. resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of indicating a left turn,

the signal for Figure 2 is a front elevation of a modified formof the signal for indicating a left curve,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of still another modified form of the signal for indicating an 8- curve to the left,

Figure 4 is a perspective view looking towards the inner side of the form of reversible head section employed in any one of the embodiments of the invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective view looking towards the inner face of the form of reversible intermediate section employed as an element of the embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a perspective view looking towards the inner face of and showing the form of the reversible intermediate section employed as an-element'of the ,embodiments of the invention illustratedby Figures 2 and 3 and showing the form of the reversible foot section employed as an element of the embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view looking towards 7 the inner face of and showing the form of the foot section employed as an element of the embodiments of the invention illustrated by Figures 1 and 2.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sig- 5 nals are generally indicated at 5, -6 and I and each is of a form to simulate an arrow including a head formed of a single section and a stem consisting of an upper and a lower section. The upper section is termed an intermediate section 10 and the lower section'a foot section. Each signal, as shown, consists of a head section, an intermediate section and a foot section. The head section .is disposed at right angles to the other of said sections. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the head sections of the signals shown thereby are of like construction and are indicated generally at 8. In Figures 1 and 2, the foot sections of the signals 5 and 6 are of like construction and are generally indicated at 9. The intermediate section of the signal 5 shown by Figure 1 is designated ID; that of the signal 6 shown by Figure 2 at H; and that of the signal 1 shown by- Figure 3 at 12. The foot section of the signal 1 shown by Figure 3 is indicated at [3 andis of the same form as the section I! of signal I but is oppositely disposed with respect thereto.

The head section 8 includes a flat substantially triangular shaped plate M having its base formed centrally thereof and projecting therefrom a flat 3Q neck IS. The base of plate I 4, adjacent its point of mergence with the neck I5, is formed with a pair of oppositely extending rearwardly inclined edge portions I6, l1. 4 Formed integral with the inner face of the plate and neck is an inwardly extending flange l8 coextensive and flush with and conforming in contour to the edges of the plate and side edges of the neck.- Formed integral with the inner face and flush with the inner end of the neck I5 is a pair of spaced parallel apertured ears i9 disposed at right angles to said neck. The plate I4 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 20 and tubular members 2| integral with its inner face and registering with openings 20. The plate I4 is also pro- 'viiied with a series of spaced openings 22 for the reception of reflex devices, not shown. 'Theneck l5 has .an opening 23 for the reception of a reflex device.-

Each foot section 9 includes a flat rectangular plate '24 having formed-integral with its inner face an inwardly extending flange 25 coextensive and flush with and conforming in contour to the .lower end and side edges thereof. Formed integral with the inner face of, disposed at right angles to and flush with the upper end edge of plate 24 is a pair of spaced apertured cars 26. The plate 24 is formed with an opening 21 and a tubular member 28 integral with its inner face and registering with opening 21. The member 28 is arranged in proximity to the lower end of the plate 24. The latter is also provided with a series of spaced. openings 29 for the reception of reflex devices, not shown.

The intermediate section ID of prises a flat angle-shaped plate 30 formed of a pair of legs 3|, 32 disposed at right angles to each other. Formed integral with the inner face of plate 30 is a pair of spaced opposed parallel flanges 33, 33. The flanges are coextensive and flush with and conform in contour to that of the side edges of plate 30. Formed integral with the inner face of plate 30 at each end thereof and disposed at right angles thereto is a pair of spaced parallel apertured ears. One pair is designated 34 and the other pair 35. At the point of mergence of the legs 3 I, 32 with each other, the plate 30 is formed with an opening 36. Integral with the inner face of plate 30 and registering with opening 36 is a tubular member 31. The plate 38 is provided with a series of spaced openings 38 for the reception of reflex devices, not shown.

The intermediate section II of signal 6 and the intermediate and foot sections I2, I3 respectively of signal 'I are of like form and each consists of a flat plate 39 of curved contour formed with a pair of spaced parallel inwardly extending flanges 48, 4| which are coextensive and flush with and conform in contour to that, of the side edges of plate 39. Formed integral with the inner.

face of and extending at right angles to plate 39, at each end thereof, is a pair of spaced apertured ears. One pair is designated 42 and the other pair 43. The plate 39, at its transverse median, is provided with an opening 44 and has integral with its inner face a tubular member 45 which registers with opening 44. The plate 39 is formed with a series of spaced openings 46 for the reception of reflex devices, not shown.

The width of the sections 9, l0, II, I2 and I3 are the same and correspond in width to that of extension IS.

The head section of each signal is reversible to extend in opposite directions; the intermediate section of each signal is reversible to extend in the holdfast devices 48. If the signal is to indicate a right turn, the section 8 is reversed from the position shown in Figure 1 to extendtowards the right, section III is reversed from the position shown in Figure 1 to extend towards the right,-

cars 34 are coupled to ears l9 and cars 26 of section 9 aresecured to ears 35. When the signal is to indicate a left curve the ears 42 of section II will be secured to ears [9 of section 8 by the holdfast devices 41 and ears 26 of section 9 will be secured to the ears 43 of section II by the holdfast devices 48. If the signal is to indicate a right curve the section 8 is reversed from the position shown in Figure 2 to extend towards the right, section II is. reversed from the position shown in Figure 2 to extend towards the right, cars 43 of section II will be secured to ears l9 of secsignal 5 comtion 8 and cars 26 of section 9 will be secured to the ears 42 by the holdfast devices 48. When indicating an 3 curve from right to left, signal 8 ,will be as shown in Figure 3 with the ears 43 of section l2 secured to the ears I9 of section 8 and the ears 42 of section l3 will be secured to the ears 43. of section l2. If an 8 curve from left to right is to be indicated, sections 8, I2 and I3 against a suitable support, not shown.

What I claim is: 1. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body including a head section, an intermediate section and a foot section, said intermediate section interposed between and having its ends abutting the inner ends of the said other sections, said intermediate section being reversible, means at the abutting ends of said sections for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably securing said sections in endwise abutting relation, and said sections provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring said body in upstanding position against a support 2. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body including a head section, an intermediate section and a foot section, said intermediate section interposed between and having its ends abutting the inner ends of the said other sections, said intermediate section being reversible, means at the abutting ends of said sections for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably securing said sections in endwise abutting relation, and said sections provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring said body in upstanding position against a support, said intermediate section having that end secured to the head section disposed in non-aligning relation with respect toits other end to position the head section at right angles to the other of said sections.

3. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body including a head section, an intermediate section and a foot section, said intermediate section interposed between and having its ends abutting the inner ends of the said other sections, saidintermediate section being reversible to selectively indicate the direction of travel to the right or left, means at the abutting ends of said sections for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably securing them in endwise abutting relation, and said sectionsprovided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring said body in an upstanding position against a support.

4. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body including a head section, an intermediate section and a foot section, said intermediate section interposed between and having its ends abutting the inner ends :of the said other sections. said intermediate section being reversible to selectively indicate the direction of travel to the right or left, means at theabutting ends of said sections for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably securing themv in endwise abutting relation, and said sections provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring said body in an upstanding position against a support, said intermediate section having that end secured to the head section disposed in non-aligning relation with respect to its other end to position the head section at right angles to the other of said sections.

5. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body simulating the appearance of an arrow provided with an inwardly extending endless flange coextensive with the edges thereof, said body including a plurality of detachably connected abutting sections, and said body being formed with inwardly extending means for the passage of holdfast devices toanchor it upstanding to a suitable support.

6. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a sectional body formed of a head section, and intermediate section and foot section, said intermediate section having its ,ends abutting the inner ends of the said other sections and being formed to dispose the head section at right angles to a portion thereof and to said foot section,said intermediate section being reversible endwise for selectively indicating different directions of travel, sa'd sections bein formed with inwardly extending flanges, the flanges of one section being arranged in endwise alignment with the flanges of an adjacent section, said sections being formed with means for the passage of holdfast devices to detachably connect them together, and each of said sections having inwardly extending means for the passage of holdfast devices for the anchoring of said body in an upstanding position against a support when the sections are connected together.

7. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a substantially triangular shaped head section, an angle-shaped intermediate section having one end abutting one end of the head section, a foot section having one end abutting the other end of the intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sections being provided with means for the passage of holdiast devices for detachably connecting said sections together, the means at the said ends of said intermediate section providing for the reversing of the direction of the head section with respect to the intermediate section and the reversing of the direction of the intermediate sectionwith respect to the foot section.

8. In a combined direction and hazard indicatingsignal for highways, a substantially triangular shaped head section, an intermediate section of curved contourhaving one end abutting one end of the head section, a foot section having one end abutting the other end of the intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sectionsbeing provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably connecting said sections together, the means at the said ends of said intermediate section providing for the reversing of the direction of the head section with respect to the intermediate section and the reversing of the direction of the intermediate section with respect end of said intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sections being provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably connecting said sections in endwise abutting relation, the said intermediate section being re- 5 versible relative to the head section to change the direction of the latter and the intermediate and foot sections being reversible relative to each other to selectively form a stem of segmental contour and a stem of compound curvature.

10. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a substantially triangular shaped head section, an angle-shaped intermediate section having one end abutting one end of the head section, a foot section having I one end abutting the other end of the intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sections being provided with means for the passage of holdfast devices-for detachably connecting said sections together, the means at the said ends of said intermediate and foot sections providing re-= spectively for the reversing of the direction of the head section with respect to the intermediate section and the reversing of the direction of'the intermediate section with respect to the foot sec-' tion, the said sections being provided with inwardly extending means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring them, when in abut-. ting relation, to a support therefor, and each of said sections being formed with a plurality of openings for the reception of reflex devices there- .11. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a substantially triangular shaped head section, an intermediate section of curved contour having one end abutting one end of the head. section, a foot section having one end abutting the other end of the intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sec- I tions being provided with means for the passage fast-devices for anchoring them, when in abutting section of curved contour having one end abutting one end of the head section, a foot section of segmental contour oppositely disposed with respect toand having one end abutting the other end of said intermediate section, the abutting ends of said sections being provided with means for the passage of holdfastdevices for detachably connecting said sections in endwise abutting relation, the said intermediate section being reversible relative to the head section to change the direction of the latter, the said intermediate section being reversible relative to the foot section to change the direction of the foot section relative to the intermediate section, the said foot section being reversible relative to the intermediate section to change the direction of the foot section relative to the intermediate section, the said sections being provided with inwardly extending means for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring them, when in abutting relation, to a support therefor, and each of said sections being formed with a plurality ohopenings for the reception of reflex devices therein.

13. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a head section formed of a. horizontally disposed open rear substantially triangular shaped flanged body provided at its base with a flanged neck, an upstanding intermediate section formed of an open rear flanged body having its ends non-aligning and of a width corresponding to and having its upper end abutmediate section formed of an open rear flanged body having its ends non-aligning and of a width corresponding to and having its upper end abutting said neck, an upstanding foot section formed of an open rear flanged body corresponding in width to and having its upper end abuttin the lower end of said intermediate section, said neck, intermediate and foot sections having abutting means iormed with openings for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably connecting said sections in endwise abutting relation, and said 5 sections provided with inwardly extending means for the passage. or holdfast devices for anchoring said sections to a support therefor.

15. In a combined direction and hazard indicating signal for highways, a head section formed 10 of a horizontally disposed open rear substantially triangular shaped flanged body provided at its base with a flangedneck, an upstanding intermediate section formed of an open rear flanged body having its ends non-aligning and of a width 15 corresponding to and having its upper end abutting said neck, an upstanding foot section formed of an open rear flanged body corresponding in width to and having its upper end abutting the lower end of said intermediate section, said neck, intermediate and foot sections having abutting means formed with openings for the passage of holdfast devices for detachably connecting said sections in endwise abutting relation, and said sections provided with inwardly extending means 25 for the passage of holdfast devices for anchoring said sections to a support therefor, each of said sections being formed with a plurality of openings for the reception of reflex devices.

' HAROLD N. THOMAS. 

